Radio folk, beasts, kings headed to area stages

Thursday

Jun 23, 2005 at 12:01 AM

It's high season for good times in Gadsden and nearby spots.

Numerous shows are in rehearsal or pre-rehearsal now. Red Yates, for example, always an awfully good guy to have around a comedy, is prepping "Radio Gals," a musical comedy with lots of laffs. This is his latest directorial stint at the Theatre of Gadsden.

The play is a spoof drawn from the very early days of radio broadcasting - the late 1920s - and the denizens of a station in a tiny Midwestern town.

One character hovering over the plot is suspiciously like pioneer radio evangelist, the one and only Aimee Semple McPherson of Los Angeles and points beyond.

Performances are July 7 through 10 in the Ritz Theater in Alabama City .

On the heels of the successful patronage program "12 Generous Jurors" that complemented TOG's last presentation, "12 Angry Men," backers now are touting "Radio Pals" to go arm-in-arm with "Radio Gals."

TOGer Cindy Spina e-mails details:

"We will be asking business professionals and individuals in the area to help sponsor our upcoming summer musical `Radio Gals' - a zany old-time radio musical with plenty of country humor and nostalgia from the writers of `Smoke on the Mountain.' ... We are requesting a donation of $350."

Patrons get a plethora of premiums, including being listed in the program and related publicity as well as choosing either 10 tickets or a tax deduction.

For ticket information or to request a patronage package, call 547-7469.

Auditions for the big musical "Beauty and the Beast" are from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 11, 12 and 13 in Wallace Hall on the George Wallace Drive campus of Gadsden State Community College.

This is the Disney version of the lavish show now playing on Broadway. It is the nation's first non-Disney production of "B&B" to be granted performance rights, says director-producer Tina Gockel.

Cheryl Moorer is Belle, the Beauty; Jason Bozeman is the Beast; Mick Fortenberry is the bad guy. Musical director is Dottie McCollum; technical director is John Longshore.

The show promises an orchestra and lavish costumes. Performances are Oct. 27, 28, 29 and 30.

Many roles are open. For information about auditions, call Gockel, 549-0980.

Rodgers & Hammerstein's bewitching musical "The King and I," with Mark Webb as the king and Linda Culbert Stover as Anna Leonowens heading a cast of 85, opens Friday for a two-week run at the newly renovated and enlarged Whole Backstage Playhouse in Guntersville.

Dot Moore directs and produces; Johnny Brewer leads the orchestra.

That's the good news. The bad is that this first weekend is sold out. Next week's shows are at 7:30 p.m. July 1 and 2 and at 2 p.m. July 3. Tickets are $12 for general admission and $10 for students and seniors. Call the box office right away at (256) 582-7469.

Watch next week's column for a review, with the full cast and credits.

Get thee to Guntersville for the Mountain Valley Arts Council's new expo, "Wildlife & Wildside."

Starring in the gallery are "Winter Dance," bronze sculptures by Carl McClesky and Betsy Scott, and "Mood Swings," paintings and prints by Keith Calvert.

The show opens with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday in the MVAC Gallery, corner of Gunter Avenue and Scott Street in downtown Guntersville.

Here's an idea: Stop by Friday before the theater.

Appearing tonight in the Courtyard Concert Series at the Hardin Center: Lucas Costner and Tim Carroll, a jazz guitar and bass duo.

On Friday, singer-songwriter Randy Sitz sings favorites from the '70s. Saturday, the attraction is New Delusion doing an acoustic jam.

All shows start about 7:30 p.m., and all are weather-permitting. There is no cover charge.

Food and drink are served under the stars by the Courtyard Café staff. They take reservations only on Thursdays. Call 543-2787, or consult www.culturalarts.org

Flip through next Thursday's A&E Notebook for a preview of the Southern soul sounds of the Tyn Tymes and other ace arts & entertainment offerings available in North Alabama.

Deirdre Coakley is a correspondent for The Gadsden Times. Items for A&E Notebook may be mailed to her at The Gadsden Times, P.O. Box 188, Gadsden, AL 35902-0188 or faxed to 543-0024. The e-mail address is dcoakley@internetpro.net. The deadline is Monday for each week's column.

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